Multilumen catheter, particularly for hemodialysis

ABSTRACT

A multilumen catheter (1) of a type comprising two inner lumens (2, 3) defined by a wall (2A, 3A) for guiding a fluid (4), and two opposite ends (5, 6), namely a distal end (5) and a proximal end (6), characterized in that the distal end is formed of two elongated and discrete end portions (13, 14) located beyond a so-called dividing point (12) at a predetermined distance D1 from the proximal end (6), wherein said end portions, in a rest position of the catheter, extend parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, each over a predetermined length (L1, L2) measurable between a free end (13A, 14A) and the dividing point (12), are each made of a flexible material, contain a segment of at least one lumen (2, 3) and have at least one channel (7, 8) for delivering and/or sampling the fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device called a multilumen catheter, used forthe circulation of a least one fluid between a cavity of a patient'sbody and a means for circulating this fluid such as a fluid perfusingand/or extracting means.

The invention relates more particularly, though not exclusively, to acatheter for hemodialysis.

2. Description of Related Art

The term multilumen catheter designates a catheter comprising at leasttwo inner lumens defined by a wall, each of which is intended forguiding at least one fluid.

A catheter of this type also comprises two opposite ends, one of whichis called a distal end since it is specifically intended to be placed ina cavity of a patient's body in order to deliver and/or sample the fluidto or from it through at least one channel, the other being called aproximal end, since it is specifically intended to be connected to afluid circulating means such as a fluid perfusing and/or extractingmeans.

With the known catheters, the risk of clogging substances beingdeposited on the surfaces of the perfusing and/or extracting channels issubstantial.

One object of the invention is to obtain a catheter having a risk ofobstruction by clogging that is substantially reduced relative to theknown catheters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the subject of the invention is a catheter of theabove-mentioned type, this catheter being characterized in that in orderto constitute its distal end, it comprises, beyond a so-called dividingpoint located at a predetermined distance from its proximal end, atleast two distinct elongated end portions which:

in at least one rest position of the catheter, extend substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of this catheter, each over apredetermined length measurable between a free end and the dividingpoint,

are each made of flexible material so as to be flexible at least underthe effect of a lateral action due to the displacement of a fluid,

contain at least one segment of at least one of the lumens and have atleast one channel for delivering and/or sampling the fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be clearly understood by reading the followingdescription given as a non-limiting example in reference to the appendeddrawing. FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a catheter accordingto the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The drawing shows an elongated device called a catheter 1 comprising:

at least two inner lumens 2, 3, defined by a wall 2A, 3A, each of whichis intended for guiding at least one fluid 3,

two opposite ends 5, 6, one of which 5 is called a distal end, since itis specifically intended to be placed inside a cavity of a patient'sbody (not represented) in order to deliver and/or sample the fluid 4 toor from it through at least one channel 7, 8, the other end 6 beingcalled the proximal end, since it is specifically intended to beconnected to a means 9 for circulating a fluid 4, such as a fluidperfusing and/or extracting means.

The fluid 4 is represented by arrows 4.

As shown, the channels 7, 8 are comprised of perforations disposed inthe wall of the catheter that defines each of the lumens 2, 3.

These channels allow either the delivery into the area surrounding thecatheter of a fluid contained in a lumen of this catheter, or the entryinto a lumen of this catheter of a surrounding fluid.

For example, at least one of the lumens is intended for perfusing afluid and at least one other lumen is intended for extracting fluid.

Also as shown, the lumens 2, 3 for circulating the fluid 4 are forexample comprised of juxtaposed lumens, but this is not limiting for theinvention.

The dimensions and proportions of the catheter represented are notlimiting for the invention.

At its proximal end 6, the catheter has elements 10, 11 for connectingeach of the lumens 2, 3 it comprises to the means 9 for circulatingfluid 4.

As neither the circulating means 9 nor the elements 10, 11 forconnecting to this means 9 are subjects of the invention, these elements10, 11 and the means 9 are not represented in detail.

It is at the distal end 5 that the catheter of the invention isnoteworthy.

In effect, in order to constitute its distal end, the cathetercomprises, beyond a so-called dividing point 12 located at apredetermined distance D1 from its proximal end 6, at least two distinctelongated end portions 13, 14 which:

in at least one rest position of the catheter, extend substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of this catheter, each over apredetermined length L1, L2 measurable between a free end 13A, 14A, andthe dividing point 12,

are each made of flexible material so as to be flexible at least underthe effect of a lateral action due to the displacement of a fluid,

contain at least one segment of at least one of the lumens 2, 3 and hasat least one channel 7, 8 for delivering and/or sampling the fluid.

These technical characteristics, when the distal end of the catheter isplaced on the axis of a fluid flow such as a bodily fluid flow, allowthe end portions, due to their flexibility and independence, to act likea sail set parallel to the wind and thus are practically not subject toobstruction.

In effect, the agitation and flexion of these end portions considerablyreduces the risk of clogging substances being deposited on the surfacesof the perfusing and/or extracting channels with which these endportions are equipped.

According to another noteworthy characteristic, the end portions havedifferent lengths L1, L2, and the channels with which these end portionsare equipped are disposed so that each of them emerges at a differentlevel of the catheter.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the channels withwhich the end portions are equipped are disposed in a group on each endportion, and these groups are disposed at different levels of thecatheter.

I claim:
 1. A multilumen catheter (1) comprising:at least two innerlumens (2, 3), defined by a wall (2A, 3A), each of said inner lumensbeing adapted to guide at least one fluid (4), said wall isolating saidat least two inner lumens from one another along an entire length ofsaid catheter, to define at least two separate fluid flow passages, twoopposite ends (5, 6), a first one of which (5) is a distal end, saiddistal end specifically intended to be placed in a cavity of a patient'sbody and adapted to deliver and/or sample the fluid (4) to or from saiddistal end through at least one channel (7,8), a second end (6) being aproximal end, said proximal end adapted to be connected to a means (9)for circulating fluid (4), said distal end of said catheter having adividing point (12) located at a fixed predetermined distance D1 fromsaid proximal end (6), and having at least two distinct elongated endportions (13, 14) extending from said dividing point, said dividingpoint being nearer to said distal end than to said proximal end, whereinsaid at least two end portions, in at least one rest position of thecatheter, extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of saidcatheter, each over a predetermined length (L1, L2) measurable between afree end of said distal end (13A, 14A) and the dividing point (12),wherein said at least two end portions are each made of flexiblematerial so as to be flexible at least under the effect of a lateralaction due to the displacement of a fluid, and wherein each of said atleast two end portions contains at least one segment of at least one ofthe lumens (2, 3) and has at least one channel (7, 8) for deliveringand/or sampling the fluid.
 2. The multilumen catheter according to claim1, wherein:each of said at least two end portions has a different length(L1, L2), and the channels with which each of said at least two endportions are equipped are so constructed and arranged such that eachemerges at a different position along the catheter.
 3. The multilumenchatheter according to claim 2, wherein the channels with which the atleast two end portions are equipped are disposed in a group on each endportion, and wherein said groups are disposed at different positionsalong the catheter.